European and International Trade and Tax Law - Master's Programme

International trade evolves rapidly. Those interested in doing business within the EU and globally must know the rules governing their business operations. Contemporary international trade law involves multiple fields of law, which affect all aspects of business. Firms and institutions must constantly be prepared to adapt to new challenges. For example, climate considerations and other issues of sustainability transform the business environment globally and require international business to monitor, mitigate and report on a variety of sustainability issues. In addition, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and automation create new legal issues for businesses and legislatures.

Taxes, including tariffs, are not least from an international perspective, important considerations for both companies and governments and influence corporate decisions and public opinions to a very large extent.

The programme provides you with access to an international faculty with state-of-the-art knowledge and research in the field and experience from working with the courts and institutions of the European Union (EU) and in private practice. We offer you a unique combination of specialist courses with a special focus on EU law.

After graduation, you will be equipped to help businesses and institutions operate in a worldwide context with the European Union's legal framework in focus.

International Master Class

Students with exceptional study results during the first semester at this programme, may compete for seats at the International Master Class programme. The International Master Class is a highly competitive opportunity to go on an exchange semester after finishing your Master’s studies. 

The programme is organised into two different tracks. When applying for the programme, you also select which track you are specialising in. The tracks share courses to some extent.

Track 1: European and International Trade Law

This track offers three sub specialisations:

• Contracts, trade and competition
• Intellectual property law
• Labour law and employers responsibility

This track leads to a Master’s degree in European and international trade law.

European and International Trade Law

Track 2: European and International Tax Law

This track offers one specialisation on either:

• Direct taxation
• EU VAT

The track leads to a Master’s degree in European and international tax law.

European and International Tax Law

The programme starts with a five-weeks crash course in EU internal market law, introducing and developing the knowledge of EU integration but also monitoring EU relations with other markets. The first course is a joint course for all students on the programme. From the second course, students follow one of two different specialisations of the programme; European and International Trade Law or European and International Tax Law.

You are expected to be actively involved in your education. The programme is based not only on lectures but a number of different interactive pedagogical tools, such as case methodology and individual or group assignments. As a student on the programme, you will be exposed to internationally renowned researchers, experts in their fields of law, and you are trained in meeting timelines and delivering different assignments in a variety of forms. You will be writing and presenting assessments and reports, working with due diligence and strategic work, and trained for future legal and consultancy work.

Law is a language-related topic and students need proficiency in both oral and written English. The pedagogical model of the programme requires students to work together in groups and present reports, cases and other material.

The EU and international law methods and the knowledge and skills taught in the programme are vital for consultants, legal advisers, judges and civil servants involved in international business and transactions, as well as for business decision-makers. The programme is suited for employment within private practice, national and EU institutions, international organisations, NGOs and business, development and legal consultancy firms, as well as legal research.

The programme prepares you to work with various legal issues in international business operations, including law regulating trade and taxation in general and more specific areas such as intellectual property law, competition law and investment law.

The elective courses allow you to design an individual specialisation and profile, which will provide you with a competitive edge when applying for positions after graduation. The Master’s degree also adequately prepares students for doctoral studies in European and international trade and tax law.

Prerequisites

General requirements a) An undergraduate degree in Law or an undergraduate degree in Economics, Business Administration, Political Science or International Relations (or equivalent), including 15 credits in Law or equivalent knowledge. b) English course 6/B (adv proficiency) Additional requirements for the specialisation in European and international tax law a) An undergraduate degree in Law, including 15 credits in Tax Law or equivalent knowledge, or b) an undergraduate degree in Economics, Business Administration, Political Science or International Relations (or equivalent), including 30 credits in Tax Law or equivalent knowledge.

Selection criteria

Selection will be based on academic merits from previous university studies and a Statement of Purpose in which applicants state their reasons for applying to the programme.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens

Citizens of countries outside:

• The European Union (EU)
• The European Economic Area (EEA) and
• Switzerland

are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each
semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 150,000
First payment: SEK 150,000

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Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.

Application fee

No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

Lund University Global Scholarship Programme

The Lund University Global Scholarship programme is a merit-based and selective scholarship targeted at top academic students from countries outside the EU/EEA.

Lund University Global Scholarship

African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Scholarship

Within the framework of the Lund University Global Scholarship programme, the University also offers the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Scholarship targeted at top academic students from selected African research universities. 

ARUA Scholarship

Swedish Institute Scholarship: Global professionals

The Swedish Institute offers scholarships to international students from certain countries who are applying for select Master's programmes in Sweden. 

Scholarship information on the Swedish Institute website 

Country-specific scholarships and funding options

Lund University has agreements with scholarship organisations and funding bodies in different countries, which may allow applicants to apply for funding or scholarships in their home countries for their studies at Lund University. Most agreements are intended for Master’s applicants, although certain opportunities may also be available to Bachelor’s students.

Country-specific scholarships

External scholarships

In addition to scholarships offered by Lund University or through its partner agreements, there are external opportunities. On the page below, you’ll find examples of organisations that may provide financial support for international students from specific countries. 

External scholarships